Turner opponent drops out of race

The Dayton businessman who had hoped to challenge Rep. Mike Turner said today that he's dropping out of the race.

The Dayton businessman who had hoped to challenge Rep. Mike Turner in 2014 said today that he's dropping out of the race.

Russ Gottesman, the founder of a Dayton-based company that specializes in mass transit audio advertising, sent out an email Friday afternoon announcing the end of his bid.

"Today, I am announcing that I am ending my campaign for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Congress," he wrote in an email to supporters, explaining that his wife "Katie and I decided that there is too much at stake that requires attention while trying to raise both a newborn and toddler in our household."

He said while he believes it's "time for a new voice and a new vision…unfortunately the timing isn't right for me to be that voice."

Gottesman and his wife, Katie Hill, have a 19-month-old and a newborn, born in late July.

The couple run Commuter Advertising, a small business which places audio advertising in public transportation vehicles since 2008 and also operate MyEndoShop.com. They moved to the region to start their company. He also teaches at the University of Dayton and DePaul.

"Dayton gave us our first shot," Gottesman said in an interview last month. "This town has an unbelievable support system where they want to see people succeed."

In his email to supporters, Gottesman said he plans to reimburse all donations. Because of when he announced his campaign plans, he is not required to file how much money he has raised until Oct. 15, though he's not required to file unless he has raised or spent more than $5,000 on his bid.

He had hoped to represent the 10th congressional district, which includes all of Montgomery and Greene counties and part of Fayette County. Turner, a Republican, has represented Dayton since 2003.